Could Being Politically Correct Cause Psychological Damage and Mental Retardation?

I've been living in Europe for about twenty years now, and even though I was shocked by the freedom of speech here back then, I think the PC thing
has gotten even more restrictive since I left the US. We used ot be able to say someone was "black" back then, and it was correct.

Just in terms of speaking ones opinion on controversial topics, I am now used to that, but I observe a HUGE difference in the way americans take that-
they get upset, they take it personally that another has an opposing opinion and expresses it! They act as if the intent MUST be to hurt them, or else
it wouldn't be spoken outloud.

I have had some americans (even in this forum) proclaim that that must be done because europeans like to make each other feel bad.

But it doesn't. Nobody feels bad because others have different opinions, or because they dared to voice them. Frankly, I had no real opinion on
anything until I started doing this too, and speaking out, and having to put my thoughts into order.... and having them questioned, debated- the holes
in my logic pointed out, so I could work on better construction.

In this way, the opposition and argument of others enabled me to better construct who I am, personality wise. I began to appreciate those who
oppose me, as a you appreciate your opponent in a sport.
It is resistance training for the mind, and makes for bigger "mental muscles"!

Yes, it is. It was almost unheard of just 10 years ago or maybe less and I know its perfectly legal in at will states, I never mentioned legality, I
just said its ridiculous and so is your nipicking my posts and putting words in my mouth.

Schools are now doing the same thing, suspending students for doing something completely off campus, hell sometimes not even on a school day.
If I got suspended every time I got in trouble off campus, I wouldve been suspended every day of the year.

@ the thread;

I wanted to add this. I dont go out of my way to voice my non-pc opinions in social engagements, in fact I will avoid controversial topics if I can,
thats what this place is for

I will only give my opinion when pressed on a subject, that way, if someone is offended, I can just say, hey you asked.

Originally posted by Bluesma
I've been living in Europe for about twenty years now, and even though I was shocked by the freedom of speech here back then, I think the PC thing has
gotten even more restrictive since I left the US. We used ot be able to say someone was "black" back then, and it was correct.

Just in terms of speaking ones opinion on controversial topics, I am now used to that, but I observe a HUGE difference in the way americans take that-
they get upset, they take it personally that another has an opposing opinion and expresses it! They act as if the intent MUST be to hurt them, or else
it wouldn't be spoken outloud.

I have had some americans (even in this forum) proclaim that that must be done because europeans like to make each other feel bad.

But it doesn't. Nobody feels bad because others have different opinions, or because they dared to voice them. Frankly, I had no real opinion on
anything until I started doing this too, and speaking out, and having to put my thoughts into order.... and having them questioned, debated- the holes
in my logic pointed out, so I could work on better construction.

In this way, the opposition and argument of others enabled me to better construct who I am, personality wise. I began to appreciate those who
oppose me, as a you appreciate your opponent in a sport.
It is resistance training for the mind, and makes for bigger "mental muscles"!

This is exactly what I'm talking about! See? Europe! They do this free speech thing over there! IN EUROPE! People, Europe! That means
progress in American.

its a form of thought control by the state / corporations to keep the mindless masses under control ... it prevents free speach and stops people
thinking for themselves... yet one more form of western oppression.... they can stuff political correctness ... not my concern if they cant handle
blunt honesty ... I call things as they are without mincing words... life to short to put up with such stupidity as political correctness...

People conform to the group and the herd, it is in there nature. Very few people can break out of it, most that think they are above it are really
not, even some of the smartest people you will meet are really kind of idiots when it comes to thinks such as this. But then again the label of
smart can take any number of meanings, most times its just used for people who copy pasted a lot of info on there minds, which really is a non issue
in the scope of things in fact with the dawn of tech and stuff such as smartphones such things will really become less of a issues as anybody can
literally look up things and data in minutes, and if we go more advanced and cyberized you can literally download all that stuff into your head in
instances, what you do with all that data is an all together different thing, as there is a whole world of difference between being smart and being
wise.

But the whole group conform thing does does serve a function, that function however has been used and abused by all kinds of groups and people in
power for there ends since pretty much humans started to live in large groups such as towns and cities. Facebook and other such sites are in some way
good examples of such instinctual behavior, not that I hate Facebook people like others seem to. In fact some of the coolest people I know seem to
like Facebook and all that, me however I am more reserved on such things mostly because I do not fit the mold now, nor do I think I ever will.

To cut things short and to answer your question political correctness is more of a instinctual and psychological thing, but even political correctness
has its purpose, however when it is taken to such extents it become detrimental and group dynamics is can also become a tool for other and other
forces to control large group of people without them even being aware of it, political correctness is but a small aspect of that. As I dont really
like writing things just watch the ash experiment it will clarify things on how the political game is run, and how the whole PC thing is used and
what it is all about, and once you know how it is run you will in time find out why it is run like that, and beyond that, well you don't want to know
nor would you believe it.

And I do think for myself, as Ive stated in this thread more than once.

I don't think you do. Pretty sure you're just societally conditioned to view gay marriage as a weird or negative thing... There is no reason why a
straight person would care about gay people being legally allowed to marry as it has zero affect on your life.

But if you're not influenced by society, then you're influenced by your own self importance... as you think you should be able to discriminate on
others due to solely YOUR beliefs. This is actually worse than the latter option. Why be proud to oppress others?

edit on 23-11-2012 by Trustfund because: (no reason given)

Well see now here we go....."societally conditioned" is a large scale type new age politically correct mind bomb the clouded minds use to put free
thinking in the corner. "societally conditioning" is an idea someone came up with to marginalize opposing views. "Poor things dont even know that
they are brainwashed products of environment".

Well I am interested in what you have to say, I was a psychology major in college and we did get into topics such as social engineering, so I would
probably believe what you had to say. Thanks for the videos, I'll check them out.

If you truly consider that PC is common curtesy or good manners then you may be correct in what you say you may be. The problem with PC is that it
prevents you from telling or even thinking the truth. As I have had to point out to management many times, you can call that part of a wall a door as
often as you like but it will STILL be a wall but you are welcome to walk into it. I won't.

i could provide a link to him saying it but i cannot view the
video before posting it ... so, search it if you wish, it's out there and i'm not posting that which i currently, cannot view first.

i see you aren't questioning the "beer summit" ... sooooo ... what makes that bigotted behavior OK ? i mean geez, he had just been inaugurated, if
that was exemplary of him being on his Best Behavior, i'd hate to hear what he has to say when the cameras are Off.

ETA -- i may have mis-spoke regarding Obama making the cracker remark but one of the public politicos did and in reference to multiple counties of one
state ...
he actually called them "cracker counties"

although, i'm pretty sure i saw BHO make an unexpected, uncensored comment during his 1st campaign trail should you desire looking for it.

since you're nit-picking, didn't he make offensive commentary in regards to Big Bird or one of the Sesame characters ?? if i'm wrong i apologize in
advance but if not ... how tactless to attack a well-known children's character ... that's about as bigotted as it can get ... offend a whole group &
their parents, all at once.

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